One of the great difficulties with the concept of the "non-compliant 
patient" is that the medical experts are often wrong. I can look back over 
my lifetime and list a whole bunch of things I was told when I was having my 
children by the doctors that we now know are simply incorrect.

Just one example: I was told that I was putting my baby's health and brain 
development at risk because I did not want to start him on solid foods at 
six weeks. Didn't do it anyway. And you know what - I was right. They were 
wrong.

Or another: my daughter-in-law had a premature baby four years ago. She was 
told 1. premature babies "do better" if they are not breastfed and 2. she 
shouldn't hold the baby for more than an hour a day because it would be "too 
stressful for him." She breastfed him and kangaroo-ed him anyway. She was 
right - they were wrong.

I intend to continue being a non-compliant patient - because health care 
should not be about compliance. It's about me making the decisions that are 
right for me and my children. While I consult with the medical professionals 
I choose, they are not my only source of information. They are not always 
the best source of information, either.

Teresa Pitman
(and congratulations to our wonderful listmothers and all the amazing people 
who are part of Lactnet!)

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